Pivoted yoke pipe vise



Nov. 4, 1952 R. w. VOSPER PIVOTED YOKE PIPE VISE Filed Aug. 13, 1947 wmmw 1's ma $3 w W I i V 0 w Y m U m V C .H HHHH W d m A. .C m m .5. F

I W llil 1 hr; Attorney Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,616,320 PIVOTED YOKE PIPE VISE Richard W. Vosper, Guilford, Conn. Application August 13, 1947, Serial No. 768,429

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to vises and particularly to pivoted yoke pipe vises for clamping pipes and the like.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved pivoted yoke type pipe vise which is automatically latched and which has protected full length guideways for a slidabl Jaw- Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter in the detailed description, be particularly pointed out in the appended claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a vise embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the vise of Figure 1, taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 4.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which like reference characters designate like parts, the improved pipe vise is provided with a base and an upper part H, the base being adapted to be mounted on a table or other suitable support (not shown).

On the base are a pair of transversely spaced upstanding bifurcated lugs or ears l2 and [3, respectively, the upper ends of which are preferably arcuately convex and adapted to engage correspondingly formed concave surfaces on the upper part of the vise. Intermediate the lugs is disposed a seat H for removably seating or receiving a lower clamping or gripping jaw IS, the latter having an upper or gripping face 16 of stepped, serrated or other suitable form. To ensure an adequate foundation for the vise, the base In is preferably provided with an integral projecting base plate or flange portion IT.

The upper part II of the vise is formed as a yoke, U-member or bridge, having an upper crossbar l8. Depending from the crossbar are transversely spaced substantially parallel legs, I9 and 20, respectively, the lower extremities, 2| and 22, of which are adapted to seat or be received within the corresponding bifurcated lugs, l2 and i3, and preferably be supported on the upper ends thereof through arcuately concave flanges or shoulders, 23 and 24. The yoke is intended to be pivotally or hingedly attached to'the base and for this purpose the lower extremity of the leg l9 seating within the bifurcated lug I2 is connected thereto through a pin or other suitable means 25. 1

Approximately midway of the ends of the crossbar I8 is a collar portion 26 having an internally threaded bore 21 disposed longitudinally of the yoke which is adapted to threadedly receive the externally threaded shank 28 of an operating screw 29. The latter is moved axially in the usual manner through a handle 30 and carries or supports an upper or movable clamping jaw 31. The connection between the jaw and screw is preferably such that the jaw can be readily removed. As shown, this may be accomplished by the provision of a substantially cylindrical socket 32 in the jaw in which the unthreaded lower portion 33 of the screw is adapted to seat. To obtain the desired removable connection while permitting the screw to rotate relative to the jaw, the unthreaded portion of the screw may be peripherally grooved as at 34 to interlock with pins 35 extending transversely through the jaw and intersecting the opposite sides of the socket.

An important feature of the invention is the configuration of the yoke I I. Beginning on either side of the collar portions 26 the yoke is of c-section. This section continues to the shoulders 23 and 24 adjacent the lower ends of the legs. Below the shoulders the lower or outer extremities 2| and 22 of the legs are of inwardly directed U-section and reduced thickness to enable them to seat in the bifurcated lugs in the base. So constructed, the yoke is not only rugged but the continuous opening or spacing provided in the inner face of each leg by its contiguous or connecting c and U sections, forms grooves, slots or guideways 36 extending longitudinally of the inner faces of the legs for substantially their entire length inwardly of their side walls. Intermediate the outer edges of the grooves and the edges of the adjacent side walls, the confronting walls of the legs are substantially flat, the longitudinal grooves and fiat confronting faces so provided, cooperating in a manner to be hereinafter described.

As is customary in vises of the yoke type, the upper clamping jaw or sliding head 3| is adapted to slidably engage and be guided by the spaced legs of the yoke. Normally such engagement is obtained by the provision of flanged ends on either side of the jaw, adapting the latter to embrace the side walls or faces of the legs. However, in the vise of the present invention the desired engagement is obtained in a different manner. As shown in Figure 4, the opposite ends 31 of the jaw are substantially flat and adapted to slidably engage the corresponding flat inner faces of the legs. Intermediate the sides of the jaw the flat surfaces of the ends are interrupted by aligned laterally projecting tongues, arms or guides 38 which preferably extend substantially the entire depth of the ends. As shown, the tongues are substantially rectangular in cross section and adapted to ride or slide in the guideways or channels provided by the grooves 36. This tongue and groove connection between the upper jaw and the yoke not only serves to guide the jaw as it is moved longitudinally of the legs I9 and 20 by the screw 29, but, coacting with the sliding engagement between the confronting fiat surfaces of the jaw and arms, also prevents lateral or horizontal displacement of the jaw relative to the yoke. Additionally, the extension of both the grooves and the adjoining jaw-engaging faces of the legs into their lower extremities and the projection of the grooves within their associated bifurcated lugs 12 and I3 permits the 3 jaw to slide er have substantially the 1nsth of the legs, enabling the" lower face of the jaw tebe brought below the shoulders 23 and 24 and thus within the confines of the lugs in proximity to the level of the jaw seat 14 on the base.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the upper jaw 3i and the legs l9 and are of substantially the same width such that their engaging surfaces or faces are confined laterally within the side walls of the legs. So constriicted, the leg-abutting ends- 31 of the jaw are enclosed or covered by the confronting walls of the legssince there are thusno projecting or eitpos'edportions of the engaging surfaces of the one sliding member dn the vise, amming of the vise or misty to the operator by reason of theaccidental intioducfi tion of foreign matter between the Suit-fit is avoided. I

In the lower fade of the saw opposite that seating the screw 2-9 is formed the upper cramp: i-n'g surface for engaging or clamping pipes or" other work introduced into the vise; This surface may be of any configuration capable of; the desired gripping action, that shown being: a pair: df' depending spaced ribs 39 extending trans versely across the face bf the aw;

previously mentioned; the yoke H is simally attached to the base It thr'oiigjh the pin connection betweenthe lower extremity 2| ofthe leg l9 and the associated bi'fi'I-rcat dmg I2 on the base, thus to facilitate the introduction of work into the vise-. To provide a fig-id frame-- wen; jfbr the action of the clamping Jaws the other leg 20 0f the yoke must be: adapted to be relas'ably'seeured' to the base; Ufilike-the manuf ally operatedtoggle type connection generally usedfor securing the free end (if the yoke of slich avi'se to its base, thef is employed the vise of the present invention a connection by which the yoke will be automatically latched or seuredon being seated in operative position. This is accomplished by the employment of: a resilient or spring latch; the spring latch bolt, dog or catch 40 of which is adapted to se'atwithin' the" horizontally disposed bore 41 of a housing or casing and reciprocate crosswise orti' an's versel y of the yoke H. Fbf maximum strength the bolt housing teens within and is; attached. to oi forms a continues-om of theoppositesides of the bifurcated lug [3; Thebolt itself has a? head- 43- having a bvel'edflup'wardly' fak'zing inner orydke engaging d g' 4 3?; and Shank 44 615' reduced section extending threugh a correspondinglyv restricted opening 45' in the tear or iiiit'e'i wall of the housing- 42; and having attaches to its outer end as by a pin; or'oth'r gamma-means it, a knob or handle 41; The yieldable oiresilient means for actuating the bolt may be" in the form ofa coil spring 48 interposed between the beveled head of the bolt and the miles-ens; wall of the Casing'i When a cylindrical H515 i employed undesired rotation y be farviitd by} the use of a screw 49 esteem? radially throiiiglithe side wall of the lioti'sii i aria "adapted to ride" in an aiiial fslbt 5 0f t-1 1 bhffbntliig' surface of the'fhe'adfl o'f'thebolt.

As shown, the lower extremity blf'bfiii beies fi'oi the free legit!!! is ofrdupeii-wiki't'h: For tbis' purpose thelweb 51 form-mp theouterwaii of the leg. is offset inwar ly win urned toward the groove as ever the lower end portion o' ffthe' leg; For sea-ting or. interlocking with bat an; iiiwarclly offset portion of the web is iritleiited to provide an outwardly facin notch o'r seat '52 h vi a lower 0 .h z n i asi i 4 which allg fis with the preferably not lower edge or the boit wheh the leg is fiilly' seated" in the associated lug l3. Formed in the inwardly ofiset portion of the web 5| and thus of the lower extrer'n'rty of the leg, the notch is confined within the horizontal or lateral limits of the legs as defined by its G-shaped main or upper portion and is rung enclosed by the bolt housing 42 and the sides of the bifurcated lug l3 when the yoke is in operative position. By this construction, the yoke and base are automatically locked or latched by theihtei'lock betweenthe notch and bolt when the yoke is swunginto operative position; To release the yoke; when desired, it' is only n'cessaiy to rhaiiiially withdraw the dog tram the notchby iiieansofthe knob. 7

While only one setof jaws has been mustiateu; both the fixed and movable jaws, l5 and 3|, re= siie'etiv'ely, are readily detaches Since the iii)- see its; is enabled'to move do war'ily' within of themes apprbximay to the seat M arid when the jaw is withdrawn; the ope between the legs of the yoke is unrestricted, the vise may be adapted to handle work oi any size within these maximum minimum liiiii't's' by the substitution of s itable jaws: The particular esnfigeiatmn oft-he principal meiiibi's of the vise, the yoke and base, not only provides a statue trite of esteptitnai rugge ness but enables each of the members to be (fast one piece; thus redii'ci'h'g the cost of production to a minimum.

It ill be apparent from the above detailed description of the invention that there has been provided an improved vi'se of rugged and novel is to construction for clamping pipe and similar stock,

It should be understood that; the des ribed and disclosed embodiment is" merely exemplary of the invention and that all l'ifold ificiitions are intended to be included that do" not depart either from the spirit bf the invention "oi" the scope of the apepd'ed' 'cl'aim. v

Having described my m'vemmn, I claim: I p

' in'g spaced siibst'ahtially parallel le'gs', said legs each having a lower eiit'rei'nit'y seatabl' inthe bifurcation 1T1 one of said lligs, Said regs be'lfig 1161'- llo w and aving slots foffnd their coniroii'tifig" iaces'ior ghastly reeeiving a lhiitfil e1 'mp n'g'" jaw carried y samyoli, sa d slats eiitehd '2 substantlally the length of said legs and projecting within the bifiir ations in said iugs, the of said legs being hingedly attached to itsassoc'iated lug, said other leg haying a portion at its lower eggtrem-ity inwardly offset, a seatformed. insa id' offsetportion and receivable; within the bifurcation in said qther lug and ay'ieldable latch connected tosaid; other lug and engaging said seat for lockingsaid yoke inoperative position.

men-mo Wt vosPEa;

7 REFERENCES GITED" 1 Th rtiiowing'ieirences of resort the also? this patenti 

